Device for holding the pages of looseleaf books in open position



Aug. 16, 1949, J. E. DAL' I'ON 2,479,215

' DEVICE FOR HOLDING THE PAGES OF LOOSELEAF BOOKS IN OPEN POSITION IMVENTOR. (Toff/1E Dali on Filed Feb. 26, 1948 Awa /legs Patented Aug. 16 1949 DEVICE FOR HOLDING THE PAGES OF LOOSELEAF BOOKS IN OPEN POSITION John Edward Dalton, Wakefield, R. I. Application February 26, 1948, Serial No. 10,948

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for holding V the pages of a looseleaf book in open position, and is particularly useful for a pharmacist in connection with the usual prescription book which is used for filling a prescription in the pharmacy.

In the use of a prescription book, the pages are somewhat stiff and are not given to readily lying flat with the pages swung to open position. Further, the book is of rather small size, and is not well adapted to having some sort of weight placed on it to hold the same in open position. It is necessary for the pharmacist in using the prescription book to copy from the book to a label to be placed on the medicine dispensed, the directions given by the physician for dispensing of the medicine, and this copying is usually done upon a typewriter, where both hands are used. and it becomes very difficult for the pharmacist to hold the book open for the short time necessary while using the typewriter for copying the directions on the label.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device which will hold the book in open position so that the hands will be free for copying on the typewriter the directions for the dispensing of the medicine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which is very simple in construction and may be very effective in its operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will be firmly held in position in the book by reason of its construction so that it will not readily be moved from position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a looseleai book held in open position by the device which is the subject of this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device alone; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view form of the device.

In proceeding with this invention I provide a body member which may be inserted between the looseleaf pages of a book, and I form from that member by offsetting an end thereof that it will hook itself into position over the edges of the pages so that it cannot be readily pushed from position by the tendency of the book to close. Upon this body member I have then provided arms which will extend in planes which are angularly related to each other so as to hold the of a modified book in open position. The amount that the book is desired to be held open may be provided for by the selection of the angular relation of the arms.

With reference to the drawings, the book which is to be held open is illustrated at H! having pages H and I2 on the rings I3 of a binder having covers H.

The device which is the subject of this invention is illustrated generally at [5 and comprises essentially a body member l6 which has an offset end at I! which may be offset at various degrees depending upon the amount of holding relation which is desired. There is provided upon this body an arm l9 extending in one direction and 20 extending in a different direction. These arms are in planes which are angularly related depending upon the amount of opening desired of the book. In Figures 1 and 2 these arms l9 and 20 are in planes substantially 180 apart, while in Figure 3 the arms l9 and 20' are in planes substantially apart. This angular relation may be varied as will be readily apparent.

This device may be conveniently formed from some of the transparent resins such as methyl methacrylate or a polyamide from condensation polymerization from diamine and dibasic carboxylic acid, Celluloid, and the like, which would have the quality of permitting printed matter to be viewed through it, or specifically of a material where the device may be bent by reason of heat being applied to it. A fiat strip may be cut from sheet stock, bent to form the offset I1, and then slit part Way of its length so that the arms may be bent from the body Hi. In use a book may be opened to the desired location, the body will then be forced between. the leaves, and the offset end will hook under the edges of a plurality of leaves and will remain in that position while the two arms are placed against the pages on either side of the inserted body, and hold the pages in open position after being forced to this location.

I claim:

1. A device for holding the pages of a looseleaf book in open position comprising a body member with an offset end to extend between the pages at the bound portion with the offset end hooking about the edges of the pages at one side thereof, a pair of arms extending from said body member, one of said arms being located at an angle to the body and the other arm being located at an angle to both of said arms and body to hold the pages apart insubstantially the angular relation of the arms.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the angle 01' REFERENCES CITED said arms may vary from 90 to 180. T f 11 i 3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the body 1 g g gg ig are of record in the member is of sheet material and the arms are of the same piece of material bent thereon. 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 4. A device as in claim 1 wherein the body I Number Name Date member is of a transparent material. 598,666 Thomas Feb 8, 1898 1,207,396 Gordon Dec. 5, 1916 JOHN EDWARD DALTON- 1,635,625 Johnson July 12, 1927 

